Macallan 12: which bottle to buy in Westford

Macallan 12 comes in two main versions, Double Cask and Sherry Oak, and CBC Liquors in Westford carries both on our Macallan brand page. Double Cask is the softer, sweeter one; Sherry Oak is the richer, spicier one. The sections below help you choose, and tell you how to pick up or get your bottle.

What is Macallan 12, and which bottles do we carry?

Macallan is a single malt Scotch whisky from Speyside, Scotland. The 12 on the label is an age statement: every drop in the bottle has spent at least 12 years maturing in oak. Because the age statement always reflects the youngest whisky in the bottle, it tells you the minimum, not the average.

At CBC Liquors on Littleton Rd in Westford, the two 12-year bottles you are most likely searching for are MACALLAN 12 Year Double Cask and MACALLAN 12 Year Sherry Oak. We also carry MACALLAN 110 Proof 12 Year Sherry, which is the same age statement at a higher strength.

Everything we carry from the maker is gathered on the Macallan page, so you can see what is in stock today before you make the drive.

Double Cask or Sherry Oak: what is the difference?

Both bottles are 12 years old and both spend their maturation in sherry-seasoned oak. The difference is which oak. Double Cask is matured in a combination of American and European oak casks that held sherry, and the aim is a smoother, sweeter style. Sherry Oak is matured in sherry-seasoned European oak, and it is known for a deeper, spicier profile.

The choice mostly comes down to what you like in a glass. If you tend toward honey, vanilla and a gentle finish, start with Double Cask. If you like dried fruit, ginger and a little more weight and spice, Sherry Oak is the better match.

If you are buying for someone else and are not sure of their taste, come in and talk it through with us. We can tell you how each bottle is generally described, and you can look at the labels side by side.

What does Macallan 12 taste like?

Sherry-cask Scotch of this kind is usually described with a familiar set of flavours: dried fruit such as raisins and orange peel, vanilla, honey, warm baking spice, and a dry oak finish. The sherry casks bring colour and sweetness, which is why the whisky looks amber to deep gold in the glass.

Double Cask tends to read lighter and rounder, with the vanilla and honey sitting forward. Sherry Oak tends to read darker, with the dried fruit and spice leading. Neither is sharp or smoky the way an Islay Scotch can be, which makes both an easy introduction to single malt if you usually drink bourbon or blended whisky.

Tasting notes are personal. Treat these as a map rather than a promise, and use the glass to decide what you actually taste.

How should you drink it?

Most people pour single malt like this neat in a tulip-shaped glass or a small tumbler, and give it a minute to open up. If it tastes hot or tight, add a few drops of room-temperature water. Water loosens the whisky and often brings out more fruit and sweetness.

Ice is a matter of taste. A single large cube slows dilution and keeps the whisky cool, though it will mute some of the aroma. A mixed drink is not what this bottle is for; if you want a whiskey for cocktails, a bourbon or rye is a better fit.

For food, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, aged cheese and dried fruit all sit well beside sherry-cask Scotch. Sip slowly, and drink responsibly.

What about the 110 Proof, the 15 Year and the 18 Year?

If you like the 12 and want to go a step further, there are a few directions. MACALLAN 110 Proof 12 Year Sherry keeps the age statement but is bottled at 110 proof, which is 55 percent alcohol by volume. That means more intensity, and many drinkers add a splash of water to open it up.

If you want more time in the cask, MACALLAN 15 Year Double Cask and MACALLAN 18 Year Sherry Oak follow the same two styles at older ages. Longer maturation generally means more oak influence and a more layered finish.

The MACALLAN Harmony Collection is also on the brand page. Check the label for what each bottle is and what it is made from.

Is Macallan 12 a good gift?

A bottle of 12-year single malt is an easy gift for a whisky drinker. The age statement and the distillery name are clear on the box, and the packaging looks the part for a birthday, a retirement, a thank-you or a holiday.

If you are choosing for someone with a known taste, match the style. Someone who likes bourbon will often enjoy Double Cask first. Someone who already drinks sherried Scotch may prefer Sherry Oak or a step up in age.

If you are not sure which bottle they would want, a gift card from CBC Liquors lets them choose for themselves.

How do you get a bottle from CBC Liquors in Westford?

You can walk in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pickup runs on the same hours.

We also offer delivery and shipping. Delivery hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Our delivery pages cover nearby towns including Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Carlisle, Lowell, Billerica and Tyngsborough.

To see whether your town is covered, check the delivery areas page. Read our shipping policy before you order for shipping.

What else is worth looking at if you like Scotch?

Macallan is one of many single malts, and the rest of our Scotch shelf is worth a look if you want to compare regions and styles. Speyside bottles are generally fruity and approachable, while coastal and island malts lean toward salt and smoke.

If you are branching out from Scotch, our wider whiskey section includes Irish whiskey, which is usually lighter and smoother.

We stock 4,624 products across 1,893 brands, so there is usually something to compare against the bottle you came in for. Our customers rate us 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 339 reviews.